Reconsidering Habermas’s Colonization Thesis: A Critical Theory of Neoliberalism

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This book reconsiders Habermas’s critique of capitalism as a foundation for a critical theory of neoliberalism. Taking criticisms into account, the author refines and redevelops Habermas’s system-lifeworld paradigm in three parts, focusing on system, lifeworld, and communication. The exposition unfolds through a new synthesis and convergence, from within Habermas’s frame, of Axel Honneth, Niklas Luhmann, Talcott Parsons, and Karl Marx. This synthesis is interwoven with an account of the neoliberal turn, such that social theory is historically contextualized and neoliberalism theoretically explained at one and the same time. The end result is a reconstruction of the colonization thesis in a new theory of relinguistification, advancing a communicative, dialectical, and reflexive theory of reification. Reconsidering Habermas’s Colonization Thesis will appeal to scholars of critical theory, social theory, sociology, and cultural studies, as well as readers interested in neoliberalism and the critique of capitalism. Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Dedication Contents Preface and Acknowledgments Introduction The Critique of Neoliberalism A Return to Habermas Social Evolution and the Colonization Thesis Contribution and Structure of the Book Part I System 1 Habermas and Honneth: Theorizing the Economy Introduction Habermas’s Nonnormative Economic System Habermas’s Economy in the Context of The Theory of Communicative Action The Renewal of Marx Honneth’s Normative Economic Institution Honneth’s Economy in the Context of Freedom’s Right The Renewal of Parsons Critical Reflections On Honneth On Habermas Toward Synthesis Conclusion 2 Reconsidering Habermas’s Media Theory: Linguistic and Delinguistified Communication Introduction Habermas’s Media Theory The Critique of Parsons The Paradigm of Communicative Action The Reframing of Parsons Critical Reflections The Concept of System The Inclusion of Power as a Systemic Medium Conclusion 3 System-Lifeworld Refined and Redeveloped: A Critical Theory of the Capitalist Economy Introduction Luhmann’s Nonnormative Economic System Luhmann’s Communication Theory of the Economy Luhmann’s Reconceptualization of Marx Luhmann’s Parallels with Hayek System-Lifeworld Refined and Redeveloped Toward Synthesis: Final Defense of the System-Lifeworld Scheme A Critical Theory of the Capitalist Economy Conclusion Part II Lifeworld 4 The Colonization Thesis Expanded: Capitalism and Democracy as Evolutionary Processes Introduction The Colonization Thesis The Decoupling of System and Lifeworld The Differentiation of System and Social Integration The Colonization of the Lifeworld Capitalism and Democracy One-Sidedness in Diagnosis Parsons’s AGIL Scheme From Criticism Toward Defense Descriptive Value: The Primary Institutional Structures of Modern Society Analytical Value: Normative Primacy in Social Order Substantive Value: De-Reified Logic of Postwar Social Order Colonization and Social Evolution: Capitalism and Democracy as Evolutionary Processes Parsons’s Hierarchy of Control Evolutionary Processes Balancing Parsons and Habermas Conclusion 5 Modern Culture and Political Ideologies Introduction Preliminary on Ideology Ideology in Communicative Action Mediation Problems in Modern Culture Habermas’s Sketch of Cultural Tendencies Strydom’s Account of Mediation Problems Reification and Political Ideology Parsons’s Theory of Ideology Early Parsons on “Reification” Middle Parsons on “Rationalization” Late Parsons on “Dedifferentiation” Conclusion Part III Communication 6 From Colonization to Relinguistification: Reconsidering Habermas’s Colonization Thesis Introduction The Neoliberal Turn The Postwar Social Order Crisis and Social Movements The Neoliberal Social Order From Colonization to Relinguistification Colonization Reframed: A Critical Theory of Neoliberal Society Toward Relinguistification Four Fragments Furthering the Thesis Fragment 1: The Form of Colonization Fragment 2: “Latent Strategic Action” Intermediate Reflections Fragment 3: “Ordinary Language” Fragment 4: “Objectivating Language” Conclusion 7 Colonization as Relinguistification: A Critical Theory of Neoliberalism The Theory of Relinguistification Neoliberalism as Immanent Relinguistification Neoliberalism as Transcendent Relinguistification Index